Once there was a big, shiny wax candle who thought he was the best. “I’m made of the finest wax,” he said proudly. “I burn brighter and last longer than any other candle. I belong in fancy places, like chandeliers and silver candlesticks.”
Nearby, a simple tallow candle listened. “You must have a wonderful life,” the tallow candle said. “I’m just made of tallow. I was dipped many times to make me strong. Even though I’m not as fancy as you, I’m happy where I am. I live in the kitchen, where all the food is made.”
The wax candle bragged, “There are more important things than food! I get to shine at parties. Tonight, I’m going to a big ball in a fancy room with other wax candles.”
Just then, someone came to take all the wax candles for the party. But the tallow candle wasn’t forgotten. The lady of the house took him to the kitchen and gave him to a poor boy who had come to pick up some food. “Here’s a candle for you,” she said kindly. “Your mother can use it when she stays up late to work.”
The lady’s little daughter stood close by, and when she heard "late at night," she got excited. “I’m going to stay up late tonight too!” she exclaimed. “We are having a ball, and I’m going to wear my big red ribbon!”
No candle could ever shine as brightly as the eyes of a happy child. The tallow candle thought to himself, “Happiness is such a beautiful thing to see. I must remember how it looks, because I may not see it again.” Then they put him in the basket and closed the lid. Away the boy went with it.
As they walked, the tallow candle wondered, “Where am I going? Maybe I’ll live with people who don’t have fancy candlesticks like the wax candle.”
And that’s exactly what happened. The tallow candle was brought to a small, cozy home where a widow lived with her three children. “Thank you for this candle,” the widow said as she lit it. “It will help me work tonight.”
At first, the tallow candle flickered a little sadly. “I’m sure the wax candle is shining brightly at the party,” he thought. “How nice it must be to sit in a silver holder with all the important people around.”
But then, he saw the children’s happy faces as they gathered around the table. They were excited about having warm potatoes for dinner. The smallest girl smiled as she whispered to her siblings, “We’re having warm potatoes tonight!”
The candle began to feel happy too. He realized that joy can be found in simple things. As he watched the family enjoy their dinner and say a small thank you, the tallow candle thought, “This is a special moment too.”
Later, the children went to bed, and their mother stayed up to sew. The stars outside shone over both the grand house and the small one, making everything peaceful and bright. The tallow candle glowed softly and thought, “I wonder if the wax candle, sitting in his silver holder, is feeling as happy as I am right now. I’d really like to know that.”
And with that, the tallow candle felt warm inside, knowing that even in a small place, he had brought light and joy to a loving family.
Once upon a time, there was a shiny, wax candle who thought he was all that. He stood tall, puffed up, practically gleaming as he declared, “Look at me! I’m made from the finest wax in all the land. Smooth, sleek, and seriously sophisticated. Not like some kitchen candle. No, no—I belong in fancy places! Chandeliers! Silver candlesticks! Maybe even a royal ball.”
Across the room sat a modest tallow candle, a bit lumpy and plain, but with a gentle glow. “A royal ball?” the tallow candle asked, genuinely curious. “Wow! I just hang out here in the kitchen, lighting up all the yummy food. I may not be as shiny as you, but I like where I am. There’s bread, stew, and people laughing. It’s cozy!”
The wax candle scoffed. “Pfft! Food? Who cares about food? I’m talking about glitz, glamour, the whole shebang! Tonight, I’m off to a grand party with other fine wax candles. We’ll be lighting up the room like a hundred tiny stars! Honestly, I don’t even know what stew is. Probably something sticky.”
Just then, a grand lady entered, swooping in to gather the wax candles. “Time to shine, darling!” she cooed, whisking him off for the big event. But the tallow candle wasn’t left behind; he caught the eye of the lady, who handed him to a young boy who’d come to pick up food. “Take this candle,” she said kindly. “It’ll light up your home tonight.”
Nearby, the lady’s little daughter overheard and piped up, “Ooh, candles are for fancy parties! I’m staying up tonight too!” She spun around, showing off a bright red ribbon in her hair. “I’m going to dance all night long!”
The wax candle was packed off to the party, carried high in a fancy silver holder, and the tallow candle? Off he went in the boy’s basket, bouncing a bit as they went down the cobbled street. “Well,” thought the tallow candle with a little shiver, “I suppose I’m not off to some big ballroom, but who knows what awaits!”
Soon, the boy brought the tallow candle into a small, cozy home. There, a kind widow with three children welcomed him with a smile. “Thank you,” she said, lighting the tallow candle. “Now I’ll be able to finish my sewing tonight.”
The tallow candle gave a little flicker, feeling a bit low. “I wonder if the wax candle is up there, lighting up a grand feast, shining in a silver holder… Maybe even hanging out with, I don’t know… a prince?”
But before he could mope too much, he noticed the children’s happy faces as they gathered around a pot on the table. The youngest girl leaned in, whispering excitedly, “We’re having warm potatoes for dinner tonight!” Her face lit up like she’d just won the grand prize.
“Oh!” the tallow candle thought, watching their joy. “This feels… kind of special.”
He glowed brighter, filling the room with a warm, gentle light. As the family shared their simple meal, each child smiled, cheeks rosy with joy. They said a small “thank you” before eating, and the candle felt something wonderful inside—like he was part of their little celebration.
Later, as the children drifted off to sleep, their mother sewed by the soft glow of the tallow candle. Outside, stars sparkled over both the grand house and the tiny one, making everything quiet and peaceful.
The tallow candle thought, “I wonder if the wax candle, way up there in his chandelier, is feeling as cozy and happy as I am.” And with that, he glowed a little brighter, knowing he’d brought light and warmth to a loving family.
A shiny wax candle stood tall and proud,
Boasting aloud, not at all cowed.
“I’m the finest,” he'd claim in delight,
“Fit for chandeliers, gleaming so bright!”
Nearby listened a tallow of simple means,
Content in the kitchen, among pots and beans.
“I may not be fancy, or gleam in the light,
But I shine where it matters, through the night.”
Wax spoke of parties, where he'd dance and play,
“Off to a ball,” he’d cheer, “I'm away!”
While tallow stayed put, content where he’d stand,
Given to a boy by the lady's kind hand.
“A candle for you,” said she with a smile,
“To help your mother through the trial.”
Excited whispers, a girl with a bow,
“I’ll wear red tonight, to the ball I’ll go!”
As tallow journeyed in the young boy’s grip,
He pondered life, on this unexpected trip.
To a cozy home he was warmly brought,
Where small joys, not grandeur, were sought.
The widow lit him; his light was cast,
Brightening moments, connecting past.
Around him, children’s laughter spread,
“Warm potatoes!” they joyfully said.
Wax may glow in his silver stance,
Among the elite, he'd prance and dance.
But tallow found in the simple space,
A warmth that fancy could not replace.
Children’s eyes, how brightly they shone,
Happier than any wax candle's tone.
As stars twinkled, both near and far,
Each candle flickered, each a star.
The tallow realized, as the night grew deep,
Joy isn’t where you think it'd keep.
In a humble room, with hearts so light,
Every moment shared was just as bright.
A North Wind and a Sun compete to remove a traveler’s cloak, but the Sun wins with warmth.
An ant works hard and saves food for the winter while the grasshopper plays and starves.
A slow and steady tortoise wins a race against a boastful and overconfident hare.
A lion spared a mouse's life, later, the mouse rescued the lion from a trap.
A king's elephant and a dog form a friendship, are suddenly separated, but they are reunited by the king and live happily.
A farmer teaches his quarreling sons the strength of unity using a bundle of sticks.
A thirsty crow cleverly drops pebbles into a pitcher, raising the water level to drink and quench its thirst.
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